The Boxers improved to 4-1 (1-0 NWC) on the season thanks to a 57 percent (23-40) night from the field and 50 percent (6-12) from three-point range. The defense did its part on the opposite end of the floor, holding the Lutes to 34 percent (21-62) from the field. Free throws also played a large role in the victory as the Boxers hit 20 of 24 from the line in the second half.
Branden Kawazoe (Sr., Hilo, Hawaii) led Pacific with 19 points as every Boxers’ starter finished in double figures. Ryan Turcott (So., Helena, Mont.) scored 17, including a 10 for 10 night from the free throw line. Ross Bartlett (Fr., St. Helens, Ore.) finished with 15, Mison Henley (Sr., Kent, Wash.) had 11 and Kyle Motta (Jr., Fish Haven, Idaho) finished with a double double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Josh Dressler led the Lutes (0-3, 0-1 NWC) with 29 points, connecting on 8 of 16 from beyond the arch. Drew Cardwell connected for 15 and Landon Heindenreich finished with 11.
The Boxers led the first half from start to finish, save two ties within the first two minutes. Pacific took its biggest lead of 12 points, 22-10, on Kawazoe’s three-pointer with 11:43 remaining. The Lutes stayed strong, using their stifling full court press to go on a 15-4 run over the next eight minutes. Heidenreich’s free throw made it 26-25 with 3:13 left, but free throws by Kazazoe and Turcott down the stretch preserved a 34-28 halftime lead.
PLU took a short lived one-point lead early in the second half, but the Boxers stretched the lead back to nine on Motta’s jumper with 12:45 left. The Lutes went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes, using a pair of Bryon Decker free throws to come within one, 49-48.
Pacific came right back, building a 63-54 lead with 6:35 left. They maintained it until Dressler’s eighth three-pointer of the night put the Lutes down three, 72-69, with 36 seconds left. Once again, it was free throws that sealed the victory as the Boxers went 6 for 8 in the final moments.
The Boxers are in the midst of a four-game home stand, which continues Saturday night against Puget Sound. The Lutes will travel south Saturday, taking on Willamette.